Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour

Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour

March 11, 2010 by Lauren Mattia, GLAAD's Entertainment/Advertising Media Fellow

GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is “not family friendly.”

Championship skater Johnny Weir not allowed to perform at Stars on Ice Tour

To say that Weir is “not family friendly” would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation. Weir is extremely involved with his family. He is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father’s disability prohibits him from working. Weir’s dedication to his family can be clearly documented in the Sundance series, Be Good Johnny Weir, which follows him and his family and friends through his life and career as a championship skater.

Weir’s performance and costume style is sometimes considered flashier than those of other skaters, leading to questions about his perceived sexual orientation. While Weir has not officially announced his sexual orientation, he has garnered a significant amount of LGBT fans. He remains one of the most outspoken skaters today, and won an online poll asking fans “Who would you like to see guest star on Stars on Ice?”

more:
http://glaadblog.org/2010/03/11/johnny-weir-deemed-not-family-friendly-enough-to-perform-in-stars-on-ice-tour/

Fixed.

He skates very well

What he does or believes is not our concern - unless its genuinely violent (which, trust me, its not)

Goodbye Stars on Ice.

It's really a joke. Many of the dances are steamy by the straight dancers. But lordy they are skating not stripping. And this is just going to stir up the hornets nest because many people know him now because of the Sundance show. Which I started watching after Kelly Ripa mentioned it.

I kept hearing about him, now I'm in love check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTaVkbl3Dp4

athletic but wildly fluid and artistic.. He is kind of old school, where artistry was valued as much as triple jumps. I have been watching him for years and he is, by far, my favorite male skater out there right now.

Perhaps we could lobby them to do the right thing and fight against this. Even if some of them don't like Johnny personally (he seems like a sweetheart to me), surely there are some with a conscience that could be appealed to. A few organized "sick-outs" would hit Stars On Ice in the pocket-book.

invite skaters you want to join you. I don't think it really has anything to do with his orientation. He comes from a lower middle class family and he speaks what is on his mind. They are a bunch of snobs. Helll I sure won't go to another Stars on Ice ever again if they don't let Johnny particapate.

Fucking bigots.

I have a suggestion/comment/complaint about Stars on Ice figure skating shows. What do I do?

mailto:starsonice@imgworld.com

I've been watching his show on the Sundance channel and I know that Johnny is struggling to know with what to do, stay competitive knowing he is at aging for figure skating standards, or to move on to the next stage of his life. I wondered the other day if he would join the professional skating circuit, but something inside of me "knew" that he would not be welcomed. Smuckers/Stars On Ice is so wrong, I long for the day when this bs is a thing of the past.

They are hoping for 5000 signatures by 3/12. http://www.gopetition.com/online/34546.html

:hi:

I've signed the petition. There are 6468 signatures at this time.

Welcome to DU!

Thanks for link

Methinks they're hearing from the public.

too and see what kind of response I get. Probably the same BS email.

just like I would if he were my own kid.

I'd muster the troops, that's for sure. :grr:

him skate. Shame on the sponsors for depriving young (and old) fans from seeing Johnny skate in this show.

Throw a burka over them, so those shameless hussies are more family friendly. Honestly, do the Calvinistic promoters of these events get any sillier?

I hope Johnny does his own tour. I'll be there, for sure. With feathers on if that pisses off the puritans.

That woman spent big $ to see those shows. I'd imagine she isn't the only one who will not be spending any more money
to support homophobes.

Shame on Stars on Ice.

There is an online petition to include him in Stars on Ice. You should add it to your post.

This is being sent in on 3/12. They are hoping for 5000 signatures by then. http://www.gopetition.com/online/34546.html

:wtf:

A sexually ambiguous male ice skater? Never before in the history of the world has there been such a thing!

Johnny, you're still my Star on Ice. :loveya:

He's a fantastic skater, BUT he's chosen to be "out there" in his presentation and demeanor.. It's just that simple..

It's NO different from the (usually) young girls who pierce their faces, dye their hair blue, and then apply for a teller's job at the First National Bank of Staid.

It's not because he's gay.. it's because he's odd..

If he were odd in a butch sort of way no one would utter a peep.

This country needs an Enema.

And we all know fags are not family friendly! Right?

"Out there"?

we think he's a fag.

People that dismiss homophobia disgust me.
\

flamboyant faggot."

you better check yourself.

not to mention numerous medals and championships.

Piercings and blue hair are not appropriate for the First National Bank of Staid. Flamboyant costuming IS appropriate for figure skating, and always has been.

Your analogy is flawed, and your reasoning is bigoted.

:thumbsdown:

Werk it, bb!

So Johnny is not the machismo male figure skater we've come to expect? Please. Would an athletic cup and some threatening gestures make him more family friendly and less odd?

Johnny is outstanding.

Your analogy is stupid.

I often go to Stars on Ice, was planning to go this year but decided to boycott after the atrocious comments by Elvis Stojko during the Olympics. This decision by Stars on Ice regarding Johnny Weir just adds to my intent to boycott and work on others to do the same.

Thanks for posting this, it is much appreciated.

Recommended.

Stojko was trying to spew -- it made me sick to my stomach. :puke:

Hmmm, who would I rather watch skate -- Weir or Stojko???

GIMME MY JOHNNY!!

until he spewed them I really had no idea he was a homophobe. I had just gotten my notice in the mail of the upcoming Stars on Ice shows and was planning, as usual, to purchase tickets to the show which is headlined by Stojko in Canada. I guess I should thank Stojko for speaking when he did because he saved me the money I would have wasted by buying the tickets and then not using them.

because of his past comments...but did he say someting about Johnny this time around? All I saw was his whining because his phuck-buddy Plushenko skated only good enough for silver.

I had not heard or read his previous remarks so had no idea of his homophobia. Here is a bit from an interview he did with Salon during the Olympics:

(Salon) "I think the reason some people get offended is because calling a man "effeminate" is usually code for "gay."

(Stoyko) "People in the gay community have to realize they’ve got to take themselves out of it. It's not against anybody. I've been getting heat for this, but there are people behind me saying that they appreciate it. It's about what people can identify with when they're watching the sport. It doesn’t have anything to do with gayness. Effeminate men can identify with effeminate skating. Masculine men can't identify with that. When I watch it, I can't identify because I don't move like that. My consciousness doesn't feel like that."

Stoyko is totally oblivious, it seems, as to how this statement personifies homophobia, imo.

Link to Salon article:

http://www.salon.com/life/winter_olympics_2010/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2010/02/15/elvis_stojko_interview

Thanks.

Yeah, what a tool...hey Elvis, you don't skate masculinely, you skate like a person having a seizure...he's always been unbearable to watch.

n/t

With the flamers they've had over the years? Puhleeze.

Fuck them. Let him start his own production. It'd be 10X better anyway.

hell, even the superbowl is I guess. Steelers were given the superbowl by the officials. waste of time

A real joy to watch.

I do believe he was scored unfairly at the Olympics too.

It makes me want to scream.

FUCKING PRICKS!

to a show that discriminates against gay performers because BIGOTRY is not a family value. :)

:applause:

:hi:

I said we couldn't support their show because bigotry and discrimination are "not family friendly."

With a name like Smuckers, it's got to be homophobic.

And we're letting them know why.

I'm talking about the other skaters. I'm sure some of them are RW tools, but anyone who has spent their lives in figure skating has to have come to grips with reality. But they will sit on their ice and let Johnny take the fall for their cowardice. We saw this with the Dixie Chicks. Some country performers are Democrats, but they hunkered down and let the ladies take the hit, protecting their own asses. Where was liberal Willy or Tim when all their idiot fans needed schooling? Hiding out or playing with Toby.

We'll see the same thing with the skaters. I would love to see them boycott Stars on Ice, but don't expect any guts or bravery on their part. Too much money involved.

family friendly, indeed.

Do they mean he has no mom or dad or aunts or uncles or cousins, etc? I'm sure he's friendly to them, so what else could they possibly mean? Oh, they think he's gay? So gay people don't have moms, dads, etc. and are not friendly to them? Is that it? :P

When you think some people can't get any more pathetic...

He's as family friendly as it can get. Every mother on earth would LOVE to have a son like him. I would love to have him in MY family. There's nothing like a son who loves his mom. I should know. I have 2 sons that treat me like gold.

:grr:

Not family friendly? :grr: He's more devoted to his family than my undependable brothers to theirs, in addtion to being a talented skater. I'd say a boycott is in order.

Johnny should try and get his own show going! I know he could make it work and be very profitable!

I just joined the yuku community Johnny Weir message boards where his Johnny Angel's chat and give info on his latest events and news. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://www.yuku.com/

an ENTERTAINING skater in the show.

Weir's a decent athlete, but his real strength is his showmanship - which is what Stars on Ice SHOULD be wanting.

Too bad it's apparently run by homophobic idiots.